Chapter 4

OLIVIA

I sat in the dark jail cell, thinking about my baby and how he was going to survive in a place like this. I didn''t care about myself—they could keep me here as long as they wanted—but my baby didn''t deserve this. He didn''t deserve to be born in jail or suffer for my mistakes.

It was only my second day behind bars, and the cops were keeping their word to Nick about not letting me out. But I thought they were taking it way too far—they hadn''t given me any food since I got here.

At least nothing was staying down anyway. The morning sickness had started kicking in. But I still felt starving, even though I knew whatever I managed to eat would just come right back up.

"Oh, my baby," I whispered, rubbing my stomach, "I''m so sorry you''re going through this, that you''re going to come into this world like this. But I swear to you, I will protect you. Your father will never know you exist, and he''ll never hurt you or me again. He''s done enough damage."

The cell door clanged open. I stood up as Nick''s best friend, Ethan, appeared.

"Oh, Olivia. I''m sorry I wasn''t there when this happened. I just found out, and I tore Nick a new one. But he won''t budge. He won''t even show me this so-called proof he has against you. Refuses to drop the charges and get you out of here."

I managed a weak smile. "It''s okay, Ethan. I''m just glad you''re here. I need your help with something."

He sighed, and I could see the pity in his eyes.

"Don''t look at me like that," I said. "I''ll be fine. I just need you to help me with something, but you can''t tell Nick."

He frowned. "Olivia, he only agreed to let me see you today. After this, he''s cutting off my visits."

"Then let''s make it count," I said, nodding. "I''m pregnant. It''s still early, but I''m terrified I''ll lose the baby in here. Please, help me."

His eyes went wide. "Olivia... Nick doesn''t know, does he?"

I shook my head.

"That idiot. How can I be friends with someone so damn stupid? That backstabbing friend of yours has him wrapped around her little finger, and he''s too blind to see it!" He started pacing, but we didn''t have time for his anger.

"Ethan, please. Forget about Nick. Karma will take care of them both. I have to focus on my baby."

He stopped and looked at me, worry written all over his face. "Alright. I''ll see what I can do. I''ll try to get you some prenatal vitamins to keep the baby healthy, and then see about bribing a guard to get you proper food and let me know when you go into labor."

Relief washed over me. "Thank you, Ethan. And please, check on my grandmother once in a while. Let her know I''m okay, and tell her not to stress about me."

There was that pitying look again.

"Stop it. I''ll be fine. Just help me with this, and everything will work out."

"I don''t know how you do it, Olivia. I don''t know how you stay so positive when you''re stuck in a mess like this."

I didn''t have a choice. I couldn''t afford to fall apart—I had a baby and my grandmother depending on me.

"Time''s up, Mr. Lewis," an officer called out. "You get ten minutes, not a second more."

"I''ll keep my promise," Ethan said. "I''ll do everything I can to see you again. Stay strong, Olivia."

I smiled slightly and nodded. After he left, I felt a tiny spark of hope that my baby was going to be okay. Ethan was good for his word. He''d find a way to help me.

I lay down on the thin mattress in the corner, curled up, and thought about everything that had happened in such a short time—how my best friend had stabbed me in the back, how I''d let my marriage completely fall apart without even realizing it. I fell asleep with those thoughts spinning in my head.

The clanging of the cell door jerked me awake. "Here. This is for you." The officer glanced around before tossing a small plastic bag into my cell. "From Mr. Lewis. I won''t always be on duty, but when I am, I''ll take care of you." He shut the door and walked away.

I rushed to the bag and found food and vitamins inside. Tears filled my eyes—I was so grateful to Ethan for what he''d done. I quickly ate the food, took the vitamins, and drank water from the tap.

Lying back down, I rubbed my belly. "Everything''s going to be okay, baby. I promise."